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Squash
How to Tell if Butternut Squash Is Ripe Download Article A foolproof guide to help you pick or buy a perfectly ripe butternut squash every time 11 Recipe Ratings Co-authored by Ollie George Cigliano
Last Updated: January 3, 2025 Fact Checked
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Harvesting Squash from a Garden
|
Selecting Squash at the Store
|
Storing Your Squash
|
Expert Interview
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Ollie George Cigliano. Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 121,331 times.
Butternut squash is a classic seasonal delicacy in the fall. You can use it to make delicious sautés, soups, and stews. Whether you’re growing butternut squash in your garden or encountering them for the first time at the grocery store, choosing a squash that is ripe can be difficult. A ripe butternut squash should be a dark shade of beige, feel relatively hard and heavy, and sound hollow when you tap on its exterior with your knuckles.
How do you know when butternut squash is ripe?
A ripe butternut squash should have skin that’s dark beige and uniform in color, without any green patches. The skin should also be matte, rather than shiny or waxy. The squash should also feel heavy when you pick it up, it should have a hard exterior, and it should sound hollow when you tap on it.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Harvesting Squash from a Garden
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1 Wait for the squash to reach 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) in length. While the length of a mature butternut squash can vary depending on its variety and soil conditions, most butternut squash will reach a length of 8–12 inches (20–30 cm). When your squash reaches this length and stops growing, it will be close to harvesting time.
Squashes grown in richer soils will be longer in length than those in less rich soils.
2 Watch for the stem to turn brown before harvesting. When a butternut squash ripens, the stem will turn color, from green to brown. If the stem is green, leave the squash on the vine a little longer. In addition to being brown in color, the stem will also be dry when the squash is ready to harvest.
When cutting your butternut squash off the vine, make sure you leave as much of the stem on as possible, or at least 1 in (2.5 cm).
Removing the stem from the squash may cause the flesh to peel open, allowing bacteria to get inside the squash and causing it to rot more quickly.
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3 Look for a golden or dark beige color. The skin of a ripe butternut squash can also be described as an orange-ish tan. Also, choose a squash with a uniform color. The darker the color of the squash the better.[1]XResearch source
If the squash is a light-yellow color or if you see green patches or lines on its exterior, it isn’t ripe yet.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Selecting Squash at the Store
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1 Choose a squash with a dark beige, matte skin. Avoid squashes that are light yellow or have green patches, and ones that have a shiny exterior.[2]X Expert Source Ollie George CiglianoPrivate Chef & Food EducatorExpert Interview A shiny or waxy exterior is a sign that the squash was picked too early.[3]XResearch source
Most squashes will have a large pale spot on their exterior. This is just where the squash rested on the ground and isn’t a sign that it’s unripe.
2 Avoid choosing a squash with cuts, soft spots, or brown marks. It is okay if the squash’s surface has blemishes, but cuts or soft spots on the rind may lead to mold or rot, and should be avoided.[4]X Expert Source Ollie George CiglianoPrivate Chef & Food EducatorExpert Interview Also, steer clear of a squash with brown marks.
Brown marks on a squash are caused by frost and are a sign that the squash may have an undesirable texture and not last very long.
3 Make sure the stem is still attached to the squash you choose. If you see a butternut squash with a missing stem at the grocery store, that could be a sign that it is overripe. Look for a squash with a stem that feels firm and is deep brown in color.[5]XResearch source
A squash without its stem will also rot faster than one with a stem.
4 Opt for a squash that feels heavy. After finding a squash that has a dark and uniform beige exterior and is free of cuts and blemishes, pick it up and compare its weight to other squashes. Try to get a general sense of the average weight of the squashes. If a squash feels relatively light compared to the rest of the bunch, it may not be ripe yet.[6]XResearch source
5 Feel for a hard exterior before settling on a squash. Use your fingernail to gently push into the surface of the squash. If your nail goes through with little resistance, it may not be ripe enough.[7]XResearch source
A ripe butternut squash should feel hard like an unripe avocado.
6 Select a squash that sounds hollow when you tap on it. Learning the difference between the sound of a ripe butternut squash and that of an unripe one will take some practice. The best way to learn is to ask a grocery store attendant or a butternut squash grower at a farmer’s market for help.[8]XResearch source
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Storing Your Squash
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1 Put your squash in a cool and dark place to make it last. A harvested butternut squash can last for up to 2 – 3 months if it is kept in a cool and dark place.[9]X Expert Source Jennifer LevasseurPersonal ChefExpert Interview Your basement, crawl space, or cellar would be a good storage location.[10]XResearch source
The ideal temperature range at which to store butternut squash is 50–60 °F (10–16 °C).
2 Store your squash at room temperature if you’ll be cooking it soon. A ripe squash will stay good for around 14 days when stored at room temperature.[11]X Expert Source Jennifer LevasseurPersonal ChefExpert Interview Remove the squash from any plastic packaging before storing.[12]XResearch source
Avoid refrigerating an unsliced butternut squash to preserve its texture.[13]XResearch source
3 Keep squash in your refrigerator after slicing open. After slicing open your squash, the pieces will stay fresh for around 2 – 4 days if refrigerated. Before putting freshly sliced squash pieces in your refrigerator, put them into an airtight container or sealable freezer bag, and squeeze out any excess air.[14]X Expert Source Jennifer LevasseurPersonal ChefExpert Interview [15]XResearch source
Add a label to the bag or container to record how long you’ve kept it refrigerated.
4 Refrigerate or freeze cooked squash to extend its shelf life. Cooked butternut squash will stay good for about 4 – 5 days in your refrigerator. When stored in a freezer, butternut squash will keep its fresh taste for around 10 – 12 months.[16]XResearch source
Store the cooked pieces in a sealable freezer bag or airtight container.
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The Takeaway: Checking Butternut Squash for Ripeness
A butternut squash is ripe when the skin is uniform in color and hard enough that it can't be pierced with your fingernail. Make sure the stem is firm and deep brown in color. If you're harvesting the squash yourself, leave a 1-inch stem on each squash when you cut it off the vine.
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about cooking tips, check out our in-depth interview with Ollie George Cigliano.
Co-authored by: Ollie George Cigliano Private Chef & Food Educator This article was co-authored by Ollie George Cigliano. Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University. This article has been viewed 121,331 times. 11 votes - 100% Co-authors: 6Updated: January 3, 2025 Views: 121,331 Categories: Squash In other languages Portuguese French Dutch German Spanish Indonesian Arabic Japanese
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Ollie George Cigliano Private Chef & Food Educator Co-authors: 6Updated: January 3, 2025 Views: 121,331100% of voters found this recipe helpful. 11 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote
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Download Article A foolproof guide to help you pick or buy a perfectly ripe butternut squash every time 11 Recipe Ratings Co-authored by Ollie George Cigliano 
How toBoil Butternut Squash 
How toTell if Eggplant Is Bad 
How toCook Butternut Squash in the Oven 
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Co-authored by: Ollie George Cigliano Private Chef & Food Educator This article was co-authored by Ollie George Cigliano. Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University. This article has been viewed 121,331 times. 11 votes - 100% Co-authors: 6 Updated: January 3, 2025 Views: 121,331 Categories: Squash In other languages Portuguese French Dutch German Spanish Indonesian Arabic Japanese 
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1 Wait for the squash to reach 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) in length. While the length of a mature butternut squash can vary depending on its variety and soil conditions, most butternut squash will reach a length of 8–12 inches (20–30 cm). When your squash reaches this length and stops growing, it will be close to harvesting time. 
2 Watch for the stem to turn brown before harvesting. When a butternut squash ripens, the stem will turn color, from green to brown. If the stem is green, leave the squash on the vine a little longer. In addition to being brown in color, the stem will also be dry when the squash is ready to harvest. 
3 Look for a golden or dark beige color. The skin of a ripe butternut squash can also be described as an orange-ish tan. Also, choose a squash with a uniform color. The darker the color of the squash the better.[1] 
1 Choose a squash with a dark beige, matte skin. Avoid squashes that are light yellow or have green patches, and ones that have a shiny exterior.[2] A shiny or waxy exterior is a sign that the squash was picked too early.[3] 
3 Make sure the stem is still attached to the squash you choose. If you see a butternut squash with a missing stem at the grocery store, that could be a sign that it is overripe. Look for a squash with a stem that feels firm and is deep brown in color.[5] 
4 Opt for a squash that feels heavy. After finding a squash that has a dark and uniform beige exterior and is free of cuts and blemishes, pick it up and compare its weight to other squashes. Try to get a general sense of the average weight of the squashes. If a squash feels relatively light compared to the rest of the bunch, it may not be ripe yet.[6] 
2 Store your squash at room temperature if you’ll be cooking it soon. A ripe squash will stay good for around 14 days when stored at room temperature.[11] Remove the squash from any plastic packaging before storing.[12] 
3 Keep squash in your refrigerator after slicing open. After slicing open your squash, the pieces will stay fresh for around 2 – 4 days if refrigerated. Before putting freshly sliced squash pieces in your refrigerator, put them into an airtight container or sealable freezer bag, and squeeze out any excess air.[14] [15] 
4 Refrigerate or freeze cooked squash to extend its shelf life. Cooked butternut squash will stay good for about 4 – 5 days in your refrigerator. When stored in a freezer, butternut squash will keep its fresh taste for around 10 – 12 months.[16] 